Wallace and Lachowicz at the double as Phoenix douse Guildfords Flames

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Guildford Flames 1 - 4 Manchester Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix served the rest of the English Premier League notice on Saturday night that they cannot be discounted from the title race. Stephen Wallace and Robert Lachowicz both bagged a brace of goals on Saturday as the short-benched Phoenix rekindled their free-scoring form of earlier in the season to take a massive two points.

An excellent opening twenty minutes for the Phoenix saw them race into a 3-0 lead at the first interval, stunning the Guildford team and supporters as they had undoubtedly been expecting an easy night given the Phoenix shortness of players. Ryan Johnson was still missing through an ankle injury, Iain Bowie didn't travel and Ed Courtenay was snowbound in Philadelphia and unable to get back to the UK in time to travel to Surrey.

Having lost both their earlier visits to Spectrum, Phoenix knew they were in for a battle, but they jumped out to a fourth minute lead as Stephen Wallace continued his fine goalscoring form assisted by player coach Tony Hand. Phoenix left it late in the period before doubling their lead in the 19th minute as ace playmaker Tony Hand fed Robert Lahowicz and the young forward beat Skinns in the Flames net. And the period ended perfectly for the visitors as with just one second on the period clock Jaakko Hagelberg fed Stephen Wallace and he buried the puck into the net for his second of the game and a three goal margin at the break.

A penalty riddled second period saw the flow of the game constantly disrupted and the pace of an even period slowed noticeably. Phoenix had powerplay opportunities to increase their lead, but some dogged defence by the Flames kept them at bay. Late in the session, Guildford were awarded a two-man advantage as Hagelberg and Greg Wood were penalised for High Sticking and Hooking respectively and the extra space on the ice allowed the home side to reduce the arrears in the final minute, Saul the scorer to send the teams to the second interval with the Phoenix still ahead by two.

Referee Tottman continued to call penalties into the third period, Hagelberg again the offender this time for Interference, but an enormously mistake by Flames goalie Dean Skinns gave Lachowicz an easy shorthanded marker, and his second goal of the game less than five minutes into the session. Guildford tried hard to force their way back into the game, but the Phoenix were in no mood to relinquish their game-winning advantage. Steve Fone in the Phoenix goal saw plenty of late action, but was never seriously troubled and the Flames were a well beaten side at the end.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand was understandably pleased with the result and commented, "I had to change a few things around tonight and the response I got from the players was excellent. We played a good, solid game from Foney in goal right through the squad. Everyone bought into the changes and everyone played their part, it was possibly the most pleasing night of the season for me as a coach as just about everything went as well as I could have hoped. I was a bit disappointed to lose the goal late in the second period, but we didn't let it get to us and we were very good value for the victory."

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